OKLAHOMA CITY — Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt had an early exit from Tuesday’s Game 1 against the Thunder because of a right pinky injury that was later diagnosed as a dislocation, a source confirmed to the California Post.
Another source told the Post that a bone in Vanderbilt’s pinky broke skin as a result of the play the injury occurred.
Vanderbilt suffered the finger injury midway through the second quarter while attempting to block an alley-oop for Chet Holmgren, with Vanderbilt’s pinky hitting the backboard as he swiped for the ball.
The 6-foot-8 forward immediately went to the ground in pain, holding his right hand near the Thunder bench, with Oklahoma City players reacting in disgust when they saw Vanderbilt’s hand.
“I had to go check on him because it just looked bad,” coach JJ Redick said postgame. “I mean, he was audibly screaming, and you knew he had done something. So we’re obviously disappointed that happened. It’s just a freak injury.
He immediately went back to the locker room at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter.
“He’s tough as nails,” LeBron James said. “So if Vando was in pain, then something actually really happened. So, it sucks.”
The Lakers ruled Vanderbilt out for the remainder of the game at halftime.
“I just talked to him,” Redick said. “He’s in as good of spirits as you can be in this situation. Obviously, frustrated with what happened.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
